Reformation and Foundation: Kingdom Restored and Built

1. Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. 2. He did that which was right in Yahweh’s eyes, and walked in the ways of David his father, and didn’t turn away to the right hand or to the left. 3. For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father; and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, the Asherah poles, the engraved images, and the molten images. 4. They broke down the altars of the Baals in his presence; and he cut down the incense altars that were on high above them. He broke the Asherah poles, the engraved images, and the molten images in pieces, made dust of them, and scattered it on the graves of those who had sacrificed to them. 5. He burned the bones of the priests on their altars, and purged Judah and Jerusalem. 6. He did this in the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon, even to Naphtali, around in their ruins. 7. He broke down the altars, and beat the Asherah poles and the engraved images into powder, and cut down all the incense altars throughout all the land of Israel, then returned to Jerusalem. 8. Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder, to repair Yahweh his God’s house. 9. They came to Hilkiah the high priest, and delivered the money that was brought into God’s house, which the Levites, the keepers of the threshold, had gathered from the hands of Manasseh, Ephraim, of all the remnant of Israel, of all Judah and Benjamin, and of the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 10. They delivered it into the hands of the workmen who had the oversight of Yahweh’s house; and the workmen who labored in Yahweh’s house gave it to mend and repair the house. 11. They gave it to the carpenters and to the builders, to buy cut stone and timber for couplings, and to make beams for the houses which the kings of Judah had destroyed. 12. The men did the work faithfully. Their overseers were Jahath and Obadiah, the Levites, of the sons of Merari; and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to give direction; and others of the Levites, who were all skillful with musical instruments. 13. Also they were over the bearers of burdens, and directed all who did the work in every kind of service. Of the Levites, there were scribes, officials, and gatekeepers. 14. When they brought out the money that was brought into Yahweh’s house, Hilkiah the priest found the book of Yahweh’s law given by Moses. 15. Hilkiah answered Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the book of the law in Yahweh’s house.” So Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan. 16. Shaphan carried the book to the king, and moreover brought back word to the king, saying, “All that was committed to your servants, they are doing. 17. They have emptied out the money that was found in Yahweh’s house, and have delivered it into the hand of the overseers, and into the hand of the workmen.” 18. Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, “Hilkiah the priest has delivered me a book.” Shaphan read from it to the king. 19. When the king had heard the words of the law, he tore his clothes. 20. The king commanded Hilkiah, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Abdon the son of Micah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king’s servant, saying, 21. “Go inquire of Yahweh for me, and for those who are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found; for great is Yahweh’s wrath that is poured out on us, because our fathers have not kept Yahweh’s word, to do according to all that is written in this book.” 22. So Hilkiah, and they whom the king had commanded, went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tokhath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe (now she lived in Jerusalem in the second quarter), and they spoke to her to that effect. 23. She said to them, “Yahweh, the God of Israel says: ‘Tell the man who sent you to me, 24. “Yahweh says, ‘Behold, I will bring evil on this place, and on its inhabitants, even all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah. 25. Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my wrath is poured out on this place, and it will not be quenched.’”’ 26. But to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of Yahweh, you shall tell him this, ‘Yahweh, the God of Israel says: “About the words which you have heard, 27. because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before God, when you heard his words against this place, and against its inhabitants, and have humbled yourself before me, and have torn your clothes, and wept before me, I also have heard you,” says Yahweh. 28. “Behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace. Your eyes won’t see all the evil that I will bring on this place and on its inhabitants.”’” They brought back word to the king. 29. Then the king sent and gathered together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. 30. The king went up to Yahweh’s house, with all the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests, the Levites, and all the people, both great and small; and he read in their hearing all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in Yahweh’s house. 31. The king stood in his place, and made a covenant before Yahweh, to walk after Yahweh, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant that were written in this book. 32. He caused all who were found in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand. The inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers. 33. Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that belonged to the children of Israel, and made all who were found in Israel to serve, even to serve Yahweh their God. All his days they didn’t depart from following Yahweh, the God of their fathers. 1. Josiah kept a Passover to Yahweh in Jerusalem. They killed the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month. 2. He set the priests in their offices, and encouraged them in the service of Yahweh’s house. 3. He said to the Levites who taught all Israel, who were holy to Yahweh, “Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son of David king of Israel built. It will no longer be a burden on your shoulders. Now serve Yahweh your God, and his people Israel. 4. Prepare yourselves after your fathers’ houses by your divisions, according to the writing of David king of Israel, and according to the writing of Solomon his son. 5. Stand in the holy place according to the divisions of the fathers’ houses of your brothers the children of the people, and let there be for each a portion of a fathers’ house of the Levites. 6. Kill the Passover, sanctify yourselves, and prepare for your brothers, to do according to Yahweh’s word by Moses.” 7. Josiah gave to the children of the people, of the flock, lambs and young goats, all of them for the Passover offerings, to all who were present, to the number of thirty thousand, and three thousand bulls. These were of the king’s substance. 8. His princes gave for a freewill offering to the people, to the priests, and to the Levites. Hilkiah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, the rulers of God’s house, gave to the priests for the Passover offerings two thousand six hundred small livestock, and three hundred head of cattle. 9. Conaniah also, and Shemaiah and Nethanel, his brothers, and Hashabiah, Jeiel, and Jozabad, the chiefs of the Levites, gave to the Levites for the Passover offerings five thousand small livestock and five hundred head of cattle. 10. So the service was prepared, and the priests stood in their place, and the Levites by their divisions, according to the king’s commandment. 11. They killed the Passover, and the priests sprinkled the blood which they received of their hand, and the Levites flayed them. 12. They removed the burnt offerings, that they might give them according to the divisions of the fathers’ houses of the children of the people, to offer to Yahweh, as it is written in the book of Moses. They did the same with the cattle. 13. They roasted the Passover with fire according to the ordinance. They boiled the holy offerings in pots, in cauldrons, and in pans, and carried them quickly to all the children of the people. 14. Afterward they prepared for themselves and for the priests, because the priests the sons of Aaron were busy with offering the burnt offerings and the fat until night. Therefore the Levites prepared for themselves and for the priests the sons of Aaron. 15. The singers the sons of Asaph were in their place, according to the commandment of David, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun the king’s seer; and the gatekeepers were at every gate. They didn’t need to depart from their service, because their brothers the Levites prepared for them. 16. So all the service of Yahweh was prepared the same day, to keep the Passover, and to offer burnt offerings on Yahweh’s altar, according to the commandment of king Josiah. 17. The children of Israel who were present kept the Passover at that time, and the feast of unleavened bread seven days. 18. There was no Passover like that kept in Israel from the days of Samuel the prophet, nor did any of the kings of Israel keep such a Passover as Josiah kept, with the priests, the Levites, and all Judah and Israel who were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 19. This passover was kept in the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah. 20. After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Neco king of Egypt went up to fight against Carchemish by the Euphrates, and Josiah went out against him. 21. But he sent ambassadors to him, saying, “What have I to do with you, you king of Judah? I come not against you today, but against the house with which I have war. God has commanded me to make haste. Beware that it is God who is with me, that he not destroy you.” 22. Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself, that he might fight with him, and didn’t listen to the words of Neco from the mouth of God, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo. 23. The archers shot at king Josiah; and the king said to his servants, “Take me away, because I am seriously wounded!” 24. So his servants took him out of the chariot, and put him in the second chariot that he had, and brought him to Jerusalem; and he died, and was buried in the tombs of his fathers. All Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah. 25. Jeremiah lamented for Josiah, and all the singing men and singing women spoke of Josiah in their lamentations to this day; and they made them an ordinance in Israel. Behold, they are written in the lamentations. 26. Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and his good deeds, according to that which is written in Yahweh’s law, 27. and his acts, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah. 1. Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and made him king in his father’s place in Jerusalem. 2. Joahaz was twenty-three years old when he began to reign; and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. 3. The king of Egypt removed him from office at Jerusalem, and fined the land one hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold. 4. The king of Egypt made Eliakim his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. Neco took Joahaz his brother, and carried him to Egypt. 5. Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. He did that which was evil in Yahweh his God’s sight. 6. Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against him, and bound him in fetters to carry him to Babylon. 7. Nebuchadnezzar also carried some of the vessels of Yahweh’s house to Babylon, and put them in his temple at Babylon. 8. Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and his abominations which he did, and that which was found in him, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah; and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his place. 9. Jehoiachin was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem. He did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight. 10. At the return of the year, king Nebuchadnezzar sent and brought him to Babylon, with the valuable vessels of Yahweh’s house, and made Zedekiah his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem. 11. Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. 12. He did that which was evil in Yahweh his God’s sight. He didn’t humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet speaking from Yahweh’s mouth. 13. He also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God; but he stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart against turning to Yahweh, the God of Israel. 14. Moreover all the chiefs of the priests, and the people, trespassed very greatly after all the abominations of the nations; and they polluted Yahweh’s house which he had made holy in Jerusalem. 15. Yahweh, the God of their fathers, sent to them by his messengers, rising up early and sending, because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place; 16. but they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and scoffed at his prophets, until Yahweh’s wrath arose against his people, until there was no remedy. 17. Therefore he brought on them the king of the Chaldeans, who killed their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion on young man or virgin, old man or gray-headed. He gave them all into his hand. 18. All the vessels of God’s house, great and small, and the treasures of Yahweh’s house, and the treasures of the king, and of his princes, all these he brought to Babylon. 19. They burned God’s house, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem, and burned all its palaces with fire, and destroyed all of its valuable vessels. 20. He carried those who had escaped from the sword away to Babylon, and they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia, 21. to fulfill Yahweh’s word by Jeremiah’s mouth, until the land had enjoyed its Sabbaths. As long as it lay desolate, it kept Sabbath, to fulfill seventy years. 22. Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that Yahweh’s word by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, Yahweh stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, 23. “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, ‘Yahweh, the God of heaven, has given all the kingdoms of the earth to me; and he has commanded me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever there is among you of all his people, Yahweh his God be with him, and let him go up.’”

1. The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. 2. Abraham became the father of Isaac. Isaac became the father of Jacob. Jacob became the father of Judah and his brothers. 3. Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar. Perez became the father of Hezron. Hezron became the father of Ram. 4. Ram became the father of Amminadab. Amminadab became the father of Nahshon. Nahshon became the father of Salmon. 5. Salmon became the father of Boaz by Rahab. Boaz became the father of Obed by Ruth. Obed became the father of Jesse. 6. Jesse became the father of King David. David became the father of Solomon by her who had been Uriah’s wife. 7. Solomon became the father of Rehoboam. Rehoboam became the father of Abijah. Abijah became the father of Asa. 8. Asa became the father of Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat became the father of Joram. Joram became the father of Uzziah. 9. Uzziah became the father of Jotham. Jotham became the father of Ahaz. Ahaz became the father of Hezekiah. 10. Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh. Manasseh became the father of Amon. Amon became the father of Josiah. 11. Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the exile to Babylon. 12. After the exile to Babylon, Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel. Shealtiel became the father of Zerubbabel. 13. Zerubbabel became the father of Abiud. Abiud became the father of Eliakim. Eliakim became the father of Azor. 14. Azor became the father of Zadok. Zadok became the father of Achim. Achim became the father of Eliud. 15. Eliud became the father of Eleazar. Eleazar became the father of Matthan. Matthan became the father of Jacob. 16. Jacob became the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, from whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. 17. So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; from David to the exile to Babylon fourteen generations; and from the carrying away to Babylon to the Christ, fourteen generations. 18. Now the birth of Jesus Christ was like this: After his mother, Mary, was engaged to Joseph, before they came together, she was found pregnant by the Holy Spirit. 19. Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, intended to put her away secretly. 20. But when he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take to yourself Mary, your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21. She shall give birth to a son. You shall call his name Jesus, for it is he who shall save his people from their sins.” 22. Now all this has happened, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, 23. “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall give birth to a son. They shall call his name Immanuel”; which is, being interpreted, “God with us.” 24. Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took his wife to himself; 25. and didn’t know her sexually until she had given birth to her firstborn son. He named him Jesus. 1. Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, 2. “Where is he who is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and have come to worship him.” 3. When King Herod heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4. Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Christ would be born. 5. They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for this is written through the prophet, 6. ‘You Bethlehem, land of Judah, are in no way least among the princes of Judah: for out of you shall come a governor, who shall shepherd my people, Israel.’” 7. Then Herod secretly called the wise men, and learned from them exactly what time the star appeared. 8. He sent them to Bethlehem, and said, “Go and search diligently for the young child. When you have found him, bring me word, so that I also may come and worship him.” 9. They, having heard the king, went their way; and behold, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, until it came and stood over where the young child was. 10. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11. They came into the house and saw the young child with Mary, his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Opening their treasures, they offered to him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12. Being warned in a dream that they shouldn’t return to Herod, they went back to their own country another way. 13. Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.” 14. He arose and took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt, 15. and was there until the death of Herod; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called my son.” 16. Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked by the wise men, was exceedingly angry, and sent out, and killed all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding countryside, from two years old and under, according to the exact time which he had learned from the wise men. 17. Then that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying, 18. “A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; she wouldn’t be comforted, because they are no more.” 19. But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, 20. “Arise and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel, for those who sought the young child’s life are dead.” 21. He arose and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. 22. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in the place of his father, Herod, he was afraid to go there. Being warned in a dream, he withdrew into the region of Galilee, 23. and came and lived in a city called Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets: “He will be called a Nazarene.” 1. In those days, John the Baptizer came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, 2. “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!” 3. For this is he who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, make ready the way of the Lord. Make his paths straight.” 4. Now John himself wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5. Then people from Jerusalem, all of Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him. 6. They were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. 7. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, “You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8. Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance! 9. Don’t think to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father,’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 10. “Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down, and cast into the fire. 11. I indeed baptize you in water for repentance, but he who comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit. 12. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor. He will gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.” 13. Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14. But John would have hindered him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me?” 15. But Jesus, answering, said to him, “Allow it now, for this is the fitting way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed him. 16. Jesus, when he was baptized, went up directly from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming on him. 17. Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” 1. Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2. When he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry afterward. 3. The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” 4. But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’” 5. Then the devil took him into the holy city. He set him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6. and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, ‘He will put his angels in charge of you.’ and, ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you don’t dash your foot against a stone.’” 7. Jesus said to him, “Again, it is written, ‘You shall not test the Lord, your God.’” 8. Again, the devil took him to an exceedingly high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory. 9. He said to him, “I will give you all of these things, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10. Then Jesus said to him, “Get behind me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.’” 11. Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and served him. 12. Now when Jesus heard that John was delivered up, he withdrew into Galilee. 13. Leaving Nazareth, he came and lived in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14. that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying, 15. “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, toward the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, 16. the people who sat in darkness saw a great light, to those who sat in the region and shadow of death, to them light has dawned.” 17. From that time, Jesus began to preach, and to say, “Repent! For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” 18. Walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers: Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew, his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19. He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers for men.” 20. They immediately left their nets and followed him. 21. Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them. 22. They immediately left the boat and their father, and followed him. 23. Jesus went about in all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the Good News of the Kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people. 24. The report about him went out into all Syria. They brought to him all who were sick, afflicted with various diseases and torments, possessed with demons, epileptics, and paralytics; and he healed them. 25. Great multitudes from Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and from beyond the Jordan followed him. 1. Seeing the multitudes, he went up onto the mountain. When he had sat down, his disciples came to him. 2. He opened his mouth and taught them, saying, 3. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. 4. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5. Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. 6. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled. 7. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. 8. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God. 10. Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. 11. “Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12. Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 13. “You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its flavor, with what will it be salted? It is then good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under the feet of men. 14. You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can’t be hidden. 15. Neither do you light a lamp, and put it under a measuring basket, but on a stand; and it shines to all who are in the house. 16. Even so, let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. 17. “Don’t think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn’t come to destroy, but to fulfill. 18. For most certainly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter or one tiny pen stroke shall in any way pass away from the law, until all things are accomplished. 19. Whoever, therefore, shall break one of these least commandments, and teach others to do so, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever shall do and teach them shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. 20. For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, there is no way you will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. 21. “You have heard that it was said to the ancient ones, ‘You shall not murder;’ and ‘Whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ 22. But I tell you, that everyone who is angry with his brother without a cause will be in danger of the judgment; and whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ will be in danger of the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of Gehenna. 23. “If therefore you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you, 24. leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25. Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are with him on the way; lest perhaps the prosecutor deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and you be cast into prison. 26. Most certainly I tell you, you shall by no means get out of there, until you have paid the last penny. 27. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery;’ 28. but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart. 29. If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna. 30. If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off, and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna. 31. “It was also said, ‘Whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorce,’ 32. but I tell you that whoever puts away his wife, except for the cause of sexual immorality, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries her when she is put away commits adultery. 33. “Again you have heard that it was said to them of old time, ‘You shall not make false vows, but shall perform to the Lord your vows,’ 34. but I tell you, don’t swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God; 35. nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36. Neither shall you swear by your head, for you can’t make one hair white or black. 37. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No.’ Whatever is more than these is of the evil one. 38. “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39. But I tell you, don’t resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40. If anyone sues you to take away your coat, let him have your cloak also. 41. Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42. Give to him who asks you, and don’t turn away him who desires to borrow from you. 43. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44. But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, 45. that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. 46. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? 47. If you only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? 48. Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. 1. “Be careful that you don’t do your charitable giving before men, to be seen by them, or else you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. 2. Therefore when you do merciful deeds, don’t sound a trumpet before yourself, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may get glory from men. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward. 3. But when you do merciful deeds, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand does, 4. so that your merciful deeds may be in secret, then your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 5. “When you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Most certainly, I tell you, they have received their reward. 6. But you, when you pray, enter into your inner room, and having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 7. In praying, don’t use vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their much speaking. 8. Therefore don’t be like them, for your Father knows what things you need, before you ask him. 9. Pray like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. 10. Let your Kingdom come. Let your will be done, as in heaven, so on earth. 11. Give us today our daily bread. 12. Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors. 13. Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.’ 14. “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15. But if you don’t forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. 16. “Moreover when you fast, don’t be like the hypocrites, with sad faces. For they disfigure their faces, that they may be seen by men to be fasting. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward. 17. But you, when you fast, anoint your head, and wash your face; 18. so that you are not seen by men to be fasting, but by your Father who is in secret, and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you. 19. “Don’t lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal; 20. but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don’t break through and steal; 21. for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22. “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light. 23. But if your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! 24. “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can’t serve both God and Mammon. 25. Therefore I tell you, don’t be anxious for your life: what you will eat, or what you will drink; nor yet for your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26. See the birds of the sky, that they don’t sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. Your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you of much more value than they? 27. “Which of you, by being anxious, can add one moment to his lifespan? 28. Why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They don’t toil, neither do they spin, 29. yet I tell you that even Solomon in all his glory was not dressed like one of these. 30. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, won’t he much more clothe you, you of little faith? 31. “Therefore don’t be anxious, saying, ‘What will we eat?’, ‘What will we drink?’ or, ‘With what will we be clothed?’ 32. For the Gentiles seek after all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33. But seek first God’s Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well. 34. Therefore don’t be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day’s own evil is sufficient. 1. “Don’t judge, so that you won’t be judged. 2. For with whatever judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you. 3. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but don’t consider the beam that is in your own eye? 4. Or how will you tell your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye;’ and behold, the beam is in your own eye? 5. You hypocrite! First remove the beam out of your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother’s eye. 6. “Don’t give that which is holy to the dogs, neither throw your pearls before the pigs, lest perhaps they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. 7. “Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you. 8. For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened. 9. Or who is there among you, who, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10. Or if he asks for a fish, who will give him a serpent? 11. If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! 12. Therefore whatever you desire for men to do to you, you shall also do to them; for this is the law and the prophets. 13. “Enter in by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter in by it. 14. How narrow is the gate, and restricted is the way that leads to life! Few are those who find it. 15. “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves. 16. By their fruits you will know them. Do you gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? 17. Even so, every good tree produces good fruit; but the corrupt tree produces evil fruit. 18. A good tree can’t produce evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree produce good fruit. 19. Every tree that doesn’t grow good fruit is cut down, and thrown into the fire. 20. Therefore by their fruits you will know them. 21. Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22. Many will tell me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, in your name cast out demons, and in your name do many mighty works?’ 23. Then I will tell them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you who work iniquity.’ 24. “Everyone therefore who hears these words of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man, who built his house on a rock. 25. The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it didn’t fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26. Everyone who hears these words of mine, and doesn’t do them will be like a foolish man, who built his house on the sand. 27. The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.” 28. When Jesus had finished saying these things, the multitudes were astonished at his teaching, 29. for he taught them with authority, and not like the scribes.

1. The wicked flee when no one pursues; but the righteous are as bold as a lion. 2. In rebellion, a land has many rulers, but order is maintained by a man of understanding and knowledge. 3. A needy man who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain which leaves no crops. 4. Those who forsake the law praise the wicked; but those who keep the law contend with them. 5. Evil men don’t understand justice; but those who seek Yahweh understand it fully. 6. Better is the poor who walks in his integrity, than he who is perverse in his ways, and he is rich. 7. Whoever keeps the law is a wise son; but he who is a companion of gluttons shames his father. 8. He who increases his wealth by excessive interest gathers it for one who has pity on the poor. 9. He who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination. 10. Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way, he will fall into his own trap; but the blameless will inherit good. 11. The rich man is wise in his own eyes; but the poor who has understanding sees through him. 12. When the righteous triumph, there is great glory; but when the wicked rise, men hide themselves. 13. He who conceals his sins doesn’t prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy. 14. Blessed is the man who always fears; but one who hardens his heart falls into trouble. 15. As a roaring lion or a charging bear, so is a wicked ruler over helpless people. 16. A tyrannical ruler lacks judgment. One who hates ill-gotten gain will have long days. 17. A man who is tormented by life blood will be a fugitive until death; no one will support him. 18. Whoever walks blamelessly is kept safe; but one with perverse ways will fall suddenly. 19. One who works his land will have an abundance of food; but one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty. 20. A faithful man is rich with blessings; but one who is eager to be rich will not go unpunished. 21. To show partiality is not good; yet a man will do wrong for a piece of bread. 22. A stingy man hurries after riches, and doesn’t know that poverty waits for him. 23. One who rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than one who flatters with the tongue. 24. Whoever robs his father or his mother, and says, “It’s not wrong.” He is a partner with a destroyer. 25. One who is greedy stirs up strife; but one who trusts in Yahweh will prosper. 26. One who trusts in himself is a fool; but one who walks in wisdom is kept safe. 27. One who gives to the poor has no lack; but one who closes his eyes will have many curses. 28. When the wicked rise, men hide themselves; but when they perish, the righteous thrive.